Obama’s Praise of Kentucky Governor = Big Problem for Grimes

During last night’s State of the Union Address, Kentucky’s Governor Steve Beshear, who attended as a guest of the Obamas, received enthusiastic praise from President Obama for his implementation of ObamaCare in Kentucky:

“And if you want to know the real impact this law is having, just talk to Gov. Steve Beshear of Kentucky, who’s here tonight,” Obama said. “Kentucky’s not the most liberal part of the country. That’s not where I got my highest vote totals. But he is like a man possessed when it comes to covering his commonwealth’s families.” (Herald-Leader, 01/29/14)

Kentucky was the only state specifically recognized for its implementation of the President’s healthcare law during the State of the Union, so one would assume that all Kentucky Democrats would be jumping at the opportunity to link themselves to the law’s “success” and take advantage of the national spotlight on this issue… 

But not Alison Lundergan Grimes.

Reporters in Kentucky asked why Grimes wouldn’t be openly cheering for ObamaCare when the President and Kentucky Governor both praise it:

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They’ve even asked why other Democrats think it’s a good political strategy for her to avoid the issue:

“Furthermore, if Kentuckians are so gaga over the new law, why does Congressman John Yarmuth, a Democrat from Louisville, think Ms. Grimes has been wise to avoid the subject? “I think it is probably smart politics,” he told the paper. “I think just from a very pragmatic political perspective, I think she has the opportunity to wait and see how it’s received.”” (Wall Street Journal, 10/4/13)

Perhaps it’s because only 30% of Kentuckians approve of ObamaCare, and Grimes knows that being open and honest with Kentuckians and voicing her support of it would be devastating to her campaign. We know that Grimes supports ObamaCare (remember the donut burger debacle?), but she goes to awfully great lengths to avoid talking about it or even mentioning the President’s name (who has a 58% disapproval rating in Kentucky). 

Yesterday, RPK Chairman Steve Robertson called ObamaCare “the albatross around the neck of all Kentucky Democrats in 2014.” He’s right, and Alison Lundergan Grimes knows he and Republicans across the nation are right.  Why else would she let a shout out from the President of the United States and an opportunity to raise her national profile go to waste?

The question now is, how is that fair to Kentuckians? ObamaCare is an issue affecting the lives, pocketbooks, and quality of healthcare for millions of Americans, and the Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate in Kentucky won’t openly discuss her stance on it?

Unfortunately for Kentucky voters, her cagey answers and “wait and see” strategy are just part of her campaign’s deceptive political tactics focused on hiding the fact that if she goes to Washington she’ll be a guaranteed rubber stamp for the Obama and Reid agenda.


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